Chapter 96

[Great Snake's Poison Pill]

[When consumed, +50% poison resistance, +10 magic power; high probability of death if consumed without neutralization]

[Young White Tiger's Inner Pill]

[When consumed, +50% fire resistance, +10 magic power; high probability of death if consumed without neutralization]

The two items were blinking as if urging him to combine them.

"But now that I think about it, it's a bit strange. Isn't the White Tiger usually a wind attribute spirit?"

-Actually, it's more of a metal attribute among the Five Elements. In the four elements, it's often wind.

"But why is this White Tiger fire-based? That should be the Vermilion Bird's domain. The lore is all messed up."

-...Why are you nitpicking about a game? It's all about the settings.

"Tsk. It's those small details that make a masterpiece. I'm revoking its 'god game' status."

Incidentally, the revocation period would last until the next 9-star skill or legendary item appeared.

-And the real White Tiger is properly lore-based, so you should give back the 'god game' status.

"Huh? Isn't this the White Tiger?"

-It says 'young White Tiger.' Do you really think they'd waste such a valuable Four Gods material on a one-off episode?

"Ah."

The Four Gods, commonly known as the Azure Dragon of the East, the White Tiger of the West, the Vermilion Bird of the South, and the Black Tortoise of the North, also existed in Lase.

According to Cheonma, they weren't at the level of the Four Evils, the world's strongest, but they were hidden bosses, akin to regional overlords.

-Well, you won't meet them until far in the future, so there's no need to worry about them right now. Anyway, let's get back to the topic.

Cheonma stared at the inner pills and said,

-You're going to combine them, right?

"Of course. Let's start the synthesis!"

As Carp placed the two pills in the synthesis window, a notification promptly appeared.

[Magic synthesis in progress.]

[There is a low probability of a bonus effect.]

"Ugh. Now that I think about it, that bonus effect also triggered when I first synthesized."

The word 'bonus' always had a magical resonance that made people's hearts race.

"Thanks to that, Hyang became an epic pet... Will it not trigger this time?"

-If you have eyes, read it. It says low probability, low probability! If it triggers twice in a row, how is that a low probability?

"Specialty of gacha games. Low probability effects often hit."

-...Strangely, bad things with low probability tend to hit.

"That's the hidden truth of probability that the government conceals. Low probability? It doesn't exist. All probabilities in the world are 50-50. Either it happens or it doesn't, that's all!"

-...

Cheonma remained silent as he watched Carp, who was redefining the science of probability as usual.

And at that moment,

'Your words are truly correct!'

It sounded like the god of probability, passing by, smacked his knee and said that.

[FEVER! Synthesis successful!]

[A bonus effect has been granted.]

[The quality of the synthesized item has been upgraded!]

"Yes! 50% success!"

-...I wish the world would just end.

Cheonma lowered his head, feeling his entire knowledge collapse.

Pfft!

The two pills spun and merged into one, emitting a bright light and transforming into a single pill.

And at the same time, a fresh fragrance wafted to their nostrils.

'Jackpot.'

The fragrance was so intoxicating that one couldn't help but think that the new pill was something extraordinary.

The bluish poison pill and the red inner pill had vanished, leaving only a deep black color.

Ding.

[Taekuktaecheongdan (太極太淸丹)]

[Grade: Legendary]

[Usage Limit: Level 50 or below]

[Category: Consumable]

[When yin and yang are in harmony, this is the Taekuk, the origin of the universe.]

[The opposing properties have been perfectly neutralized and harmonized. The power contained in each pill has not only been preserved but greatly amplified. When consumed, it grants various beneficial effects to the user.]

[When consumed, all stats +6, +50% resistance to fire, water, ice, and poison attributes]

[When consumed, high probability of potential activation]

"Wow."

Carp swallowed hard as he checked the options.

He had guessed it wasn't an ordinary item just from the fragrance, but he never expected it to be a legendary elixir!

-The options are quite formidable. This is almost at the level of a near-epic. It's definitely a top-tier legendary elixir.

"Even I, who don't know much, can see that. But what does this 'potential activation' mean?"

Everything else was clear, but this phrase was ambiguous.

-It means a random beneficial effect appears for the user. Usually, it's an additional stat boost.

And in very lucky cases, skill points can also appear.

In addition, various beneficial effects can randomly occur, such as permanent increases in attack or defense power, or attribute power.

"Wow, even elixirs are gacha games."

-Still, it's a jackpot. Whatever happens, it won't be negative. You can take it without worry... but it's a bit disappointing.

"Huh? What's disappointing?"

-You're such an overpowered monster that you can't fully utilize the Taekuktaecheongdan, which is a bit disappointing.

"Huh?"

Carp tilted his head. What part of the item description suggested he couldn't fully utilize it?

All the options seemed like pure gold.

"All good options, right?"

-About the 50% resistance. It's meaningless to you.

"Huh? Isn't that the core? 50% reduction in attribute damage..."

-If it were a 50% reduction in damage, that would be great, but it's not. Think about it logically. Would they put a 50% permanent reduction in attribute damage on a level 50 item?

"..."

That's impossible, right?

The words almost slipped out, but Carp held back. He knew he'd just get scolded.

-In Lase, the 'resistance' option is not related to damage reduction. Resistance refers to the ability to resist 'status effects.'

"..."

-Yes. It means a 50% reduction in the probability of getting status effects like burns, freezing, or poisoning.

"Ah! That's ridiculous!"

Carp screamed. He had caught on to what Cheonma meant.

The server's first 10-star skill, 'Release,' was a legendary skill that removed all status effects, making the elixir's effects relatively less impressive.

-Actually, resistance is a difficult stat to increase, so this is a rare, top-tier elixir... Unfortunately.

"Ha... God, this..."

It was frustrating.

To not be able to fully utilize a legendary elixir he had just obtained.

Especially since it was due to 'Release,' there was no one to blame. It was just bad luck...

-If you really want to get 100% of the effects, there is a way.

"Really?!"

-It's difficult for you because of 'Release,' but not for others. Have the others take it.

"Oh. Such a simple solution?"

He had been so focused on the elixir's effects that he had assumed he had to take it himself.

"But then, won't the stat options be useless? The guardians don't have stats, right?"

At least, according to Carp's knowledge, the guardians' status screens didn't show stats. They only received skill points upon leveling up.

-Just because they're not displayed doesn't mean they don't exist. The guardians' stats are hidden, but they do exist. Like users, they increase with each level.

However, unlike users, the stats are randomly distributed with each level up.

"Ah. So it's a system where users only need to manage skills."

-Yes. Since the guardians have stats, the problem you're worried about won't happen.

"In that case, there's no need to worry."

Carp decided to invest the Taekuktaecheongdan in the guardians.

Since they would be his eternal partners in the game, it wouldn't be bad to give them a boost.

However, a new dilemma arose.

One elixir, three mouths.

"...Who should I give it to?"

Other players might not even get an epic-level guardian in their entire gaming career, and he had three.

-It's tough. Any of them would be fine, but... Oh, because of 'Release' and the guardians, having too many good things creates problems.

"That's true."

As Carp was lost in this luxurious dilemma, Tina approached.

"Master, I have a request."

"Huh? What is it?"

"If you do not take it, I would like to consume the elixir."

-Oh. Rarely so enthusiastic.

It was unusual for Tina, who usually had little desire for items (except for Ki), to make such a request.

"I am a knight who protects allies on the front lines. I am inevitably exposed to more attacks."

In other words, the probability of being affected by status effects is much higher.

For the sake of the party's protection, it's best for her to take the elixir. That's chivalry. Tina was making this argument.

"Hmm. That makes